Page 8 - THE PRESENT PERFECT

THE PRESENT PERFECT 2ND YEAR ESO

B. Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Past Simple Present Perfect

Puts emphasis on the result She has
We use Past simple for actions in the
written five letters.
past taking place one after the other.
Action that is still going on School has
not started yet.
Paul went home, sat on the sofa and
Action that stopped recently She has
watched TV all night.
cooked dinner.
Finished action that has an influence on
We use Past simple for actions in the
the present I have lost my key.
past taking place in the middle of
Action that has taken place once, never or
another action.
several times before the moment of

speaking I have never been to Australia.
I called Paul last night when he was

watching TV.

We use time references that refer
We use time references that refer to to the time up to now, for
the past, for example: yesterday, last example: today, this week, this

week, when I was at school. month, ever, never, already,
recently, yet etc.

Let’s Practice

1. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

I (just / finish) ................................................................................ my homework.

Mary (already / write) ................................................................ five letters.

Tom (move) .................................................................... to this town in 1994.

My friend (be) ............................................................................. in Canada two years ago.

I (not / be) ..................................................................... to Canada so far.

But I (already / travel) ....................................................to London a couple of times.

Last week, Mary and Paul (go)

.................................................................................................. to the cinema.